How did it help your sister and son with the depression? In what ways have you seen a change.

I had to make myself go to town yesterday. I knew I had to keep this appt. I had. I cancel a lot of appts. because of not wanting to leave the house.

I was laying in bed a few weeks ago and it hit me that this would be my only chance of getting some normalcy back in my life. Now that Bill is gone I have to be able to take care of myself and at this point I can't do it.

Paying bills is a job for me because I forget them or lose them. Cooking meals is a job also. I never have an appetite and I just eat anything I can find fast.

I can't clean my house. I have 2 caregivers that help me. I've never been a lazy person but my mind won't let me do anything.

The company called me yesterday and they got my paperwork from my Dr. so they are going to submit it to my insurance but I know we have a long fight for it.

I was just interested in what differences' it made for your sister.

Thanks,
Ada

Hi Ada, I know where you are comming from. I am there myself. I am considering the VNS after dealing with horrible depression most of my life. It looks like a very worthwhile thing to look into. and considering that you are running out of options as am I, it might be just the answer. Look into it, study it and in the end do what YOU think is best. Its your body and your life.

In my sister's case I am not sure exactly how to explain it.

Mainly I know that she herself says that she sees a difference.
And my mother also says she can tell that it helps. I'm about 2 hours
away so I can tell you that in my opinion I believe that I see a
difference but that is just my opinion. I can't exactly tell you how
but it just seems she is happier. But then things in her life are better
at times now and she should be. But its more a inner happiness like
she isn't having the inner sadness, the anxiety and the need to get
away from the noise or the big crowds she was before.

She has always been one that has a anxiety or a nervousness to
her when she is getting around to many people she starts to feel closed
in is the best way to explain it. It used to be that you had to make
her get up and go. You had to make her stay up, and now I know she
is up lots later like to 10pm or later, she used to go to bed at 7pm,
and get up at 10am or later. But now its not unusual to get phone
calls at 10pm, or see her if I'm in the town visiting at 9am. Which
since she has her own place is really good.

SO its a lot for her to me. Does that help. But her meds and her life
have changed too, she has done lots of other things too.

donna

Thanks Donna for the answer.

It does help. Things can change for the good or bad but with the depression, it doesn't matter.

What I notice about me also is the numbness that I feel toward anything. Nothing makes me happy and even losing Bill, I am not able to deal with emotions as I should.

You know you love someone but you can't feel it. You know that at a party it's a fun thing but you don't feel it. You're just there.

It's as if you just exist and nothing changes how you feel inside.

The VNS most likely does help her if you see changes. I thought I would get past the numbness but I haven't. I have talked many times to my Dr. about it in the past 10 years. It actually gets to you that it doesn't go away. I'm always asking why I can't feel anything.

Everyday is the same. If you get out of bed it's ok and if you dont it's ok. You have to force yourself to go out of the house and you can't wait to get home.

I honestly think as I said people have different kinds of depression and it can be caused by something or it is just something that's there for no reason at all. I have only met 2 people as I said that has it the way I have. The other people that say they are depressed it seems to be from medical problems or something else they are going through. I think also major depression is caused by something lacking in the body compared to being caused by an incident or illness.

Thanks again for the help.
Ada

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"][/FONT]
High Dreambeliever128. I am recently diagnosed as being Bipolar-depressive.
I read your information about " Vegas Nerve Surgery ", and you said that you did a lot of research on this proceedure. I need to know how to get in touch with the people who sent you the information to reseach VNS. I hope you will help me. Thanks. :Sigh Peaches

Peaches

VNS is made by Cyberonics, I'm not srue if that is what you mean
though. If you put that name in the search, it will bring up there
website. If you call their 800 number, they will send you information
about the Vagal Nerve Stimulator, and that is a start.

THere are also websites about the Stimulator that you can read other
peoples experiences.

Donna

The phone no is 1-800-332-1375. You can call them and they will send you a tape to watch and plenty of information.

I have been talking to a lady named Kathy there that is working with my Dr. to get it for me. She actually fights the insurance company to try and get it for people.

Hope this helps.
Ada

I went to see my Dr. today and I got to read the letter that has been sent to my insurance company by Kathy at the VNS company and my Dr. He wrote to her and sent her all my info and she compiled it in a letter stating why I should have the VNS. It was a very nice letter.

She told how I had tried every med out there and couldn't deal with the side effects and how I followed through with councelling for 8 years faithfully and how I had spent time in a mental institution signing myself in only to get thrown out because I couldn't take the meds after only 3 days.

She told how it cost 42000. a year to take care of patients in my shape and also about my cronic pain and that I was on Methadone for it and followed Drs. orders to the letter to try and help myself in every way.

It made me proud to read it. My Dr. says I am still in for a long haul with the insurance company though. They will most likely fight me for months but that's ok, at least I know I have a chance of getting it in the end.

It's hard to deal with the depression and it has gotten worse since losing bill. I honestly believe though that this is my only chance of seeing some improvement but I know also not to believe that it will work for sure. My Dr. is preparing me for anything that I might run up on mentally.

I just wanted to share my good news. It might not happen but I'm hopeful.
Ada

I just wanted to let all of you know that I got a phone call today saying I have been approved for the VNS for my depression. I wasn't expecting it to happen this quick but I am happy about it. I have an appt. on March 15th with the surgeon to implant it.

Ada

Ada

That means that letter that Kathy wrote told exactly how good
a job you have been doing getting the help you needed. But that
it hasn't been doing the job. And that the VNS is the next step
that should be used to try and help you.

The doctor's on the panel think its a good chance that it will help
you.

I wanted to add, my congratulations for the chance too.

You have a great month now waiting.

Remember that long haul you were expecting.

Enjoy the wait.

You will have a great experience now.

Donna